Writing Vocal Harmonies?

[powderfinger]

Is there a key to writing vocal harmonies? Obviously, they work like any harmony, but the only thing that I can find to work is harmonizing with a fifth over a held out note. In other words, writing a harmony for a whole chorus is a nightmare for me. Would I repeat the whole melody in fifths? Any other ideas? I want and need more harmonies.
Also..What are other bands techniques? Are there any things that the Beatles or Alice in Chains or someone like that do for that "trademark harmony" sound? Any ideas? Hope this makes sense.

[BrettB]

Man, what a question. I got lessons 'arrangement' this year, and just writing a second voices took about 20 detailed pages in the course, allready based on a desent harmonic knowledge. So just posting hints out of my course would take me much time.. so maybe can you be more specific?


Harmonizing in fifths like you suggest is a BAD idea. Just try it and listen: only if you want to make midieval (or how do you write it?) it is usuable, otherwise it sucks bigtime!! Paralell fifths may sound good to you on a distorted guitar, now way can they be used constantly in vocal harmony.

Remember, a 3th or a 7th step of a chord help define it, a fifth empties it. An untraind ear may even think their is suddenly a voice away when using a fifth, because of its consonance.

Remeber also that you can't really go wrong using diatonic sixths and thirds, although only using them can sound ultimatly boring or predicatable..

[Chris Shaeffer]

Here's how I write harmonies:

Record a scratch track of your tune, along with the lead melody vocals.

Set it up to loop over your chorus or whatever part you want to have vocal harmonies on.

Hum or sing possible harmonies. Go crazy. Sing notes that you don't think will make sense. Try singing higher and lower. Eventually you'll stumble on something that really tickles your fancy.

Then record a few ideas on different tracks and see what they sound like when you aren't singing.

It works pretty well for me.

Have fun,
Chris

[jeap]

i like chris' idea. looping loopy loops and going loopy.

harmonies are based on chords. there are rules about 2 3 and 4 part singing. i have books and courses about it but i dont remember what they say.

they talk about the tenor baritone and bass parts and all that.

they are singing the different notes of the chords and as the main note changes the other notes change scalewise.

the beatles were rather sophisticated in their harmonies. very pleasant. they would end songs with 6ths in the chords and in the vocal harmonies.

i tried recording 3 part harmony with my own voice and it was so bad that i gave up! my voice is low and it all sounded sludgey! i cant sing the high notes that the beatles sang.

[Even]

Just bumped into this thread.....
Harmony is pretty much a means that a song expands on the math or the music. A chord in its most basic form consists of three related notes or steps in a scale, a triad. Obviously when you are singing a melody, you are capitalizing on a sinle string of notes in a set key (or flow of chords). The harmony is simply waiting there in the form of the remaining notes of the same chords. Its hard to say what should or should not be done to harmonize. Alice in chains for example follows pretty much no rule in the harmony book. Just try and sing to them sometime.

I guess a real basic, low watt lightbulb to help understand the growth of harmony is to look at the good ol "chopsticks" tune on the piano. It adds a second voice as you move along.

[CyanJaguar]

a third below will give you a good starting point for basic harmonies.

also try a third above

[Lt. Bob]

Originally posted by CyanJaguar
a third below will give you a good starting point for basic harmonies.

also try a third above

This is a starting point for sure.....but only a starting point. The idea of simply singing the notes of the chords will result in some pretty odd sounding harmonies. Good harmonies open and close the intervals and often don't even go in the same direction. It's pretty common for there to be a part that doesn't even change notes much if at all. The different parts don't simply track each other.
I like to use Chris' method and simply sing different things until I get something I like.

[foo]

Someone once told me that a harmony part is 'an alternate melody to the song' which has served me i ngood stead ever since.

Chords are made up of certain notes and the notes of a melody usually fit in to the chord tones if you are resting on them. If you are just passing by, then you can put in anything you want, but may want ot stick to tones that are in the key.

Listen to the Beatles, Eagles, Crosby Stills and Nash (particularly Crosby and Nash) and Manhattan Transfer (!!!) for some great ideas.

Did I mention Crosby and Nash?



foo

[Sennheiser]

When I was in college I had music theory, composition, and ear training, and piano.

We had to write and write and write...well you get the idea. Melodic four part harmony, three part, duet, choral, you name it.

I agree with Chris.

When I write harmony I don't even think about any of that.
I just sing along with what sounds good with the lead vocal and try and remember it and write it down. If I don't get it the first time I just keep trying.

It takes less time to do it this way than to sit down with a grand staff and figure it out on paper.

Sometimes I don't even write it down. I just remember it and record it.

[analog4]

Good thread started here.

Without knowing the type and complexity of the music you are
writing, my comments would just echo the advice of the other
contributors.....

Work with the basic traditional structures to start with and
have the vocalists practice practice practice not only pitch but
voice inflection and above all timing. A well sung basic 3 part
harmony, even acapella, can raise the hairs on the back of most
necks. Keep it simple to start with and work very hard on
execution...Hey!! this is my hundredth post!!!

Graham.

[cjmusicman]

I find myself adding a third harmony part to 2-part songs on the radio. It's something I'm very good at.

It is just something I feel. I can usually work out a 3rd part in a very short time. (Like the 2nd time I've heard the song)

I'm sure there are people out there like me.

I consider myself a three part harmony expert. I just am able to "feel" and heard it in my head right away.

I use this ability to write string arrangements also.

I've had no luck at all adding a 4th part. 3 seems to be my limit.

My advise to you would be to find someone like me, to work out harmonies for you.

I'm sure I developed this ability by sing in Choruses & choirs all my life. So go to schools, churches & you'll find some one.



Good luck,

cj

[chazba]

Yeah cj!!! I usedta love to sing the 3rd part with Simon and Garfunkle> Always wondered what Paul S would have thought of my ideas!
writeon...chazba